Banjo



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

I. W. BANNER.

BANJO.

Patented Jan. 4, 1887.

(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 2.

P. W. BANNER.

BANJO.

No. 355,595. Patented Jan. 4, 1887.

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UNITED STATES PATENT 0FFICE FREDERICK W. DANNER, OF RONALD, lltIICI'IIGAN.

BANJO.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 2301355595, dated January 4, 1887.

(No model.)

To (ZZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK W. DAN- NER, of Ronald, in the county of Ionia and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjos and Similar Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to banjos and similar stringed instruments; and it'consists in various features and details, hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section through the body and a portion of the neck or arm; Fig. 2, a perspective view of the end of the neck and a portion of the body; Fig. 3, a perspective view of the tailpiece to which the strings are secured at one end; Fig. 4, a bottom plan View of the body; Fig. 5, an enlarged detail view.

A indicates the neck or arm of the banjo, and B the body, secured to the arm by means of the devices illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The body B consists of a cylindrical band, 0, preferably wood bent to proper form, in one end of which is stretched the head or membrane D, of suitable material.

The manner of inserting the head is clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 5, in which it will be seen that the band C is provided with a groove, at, extending entirely around the interior of the band, and at a short distance from the ,top edge thereof.

The membrane or head D is of greater diameter than the body 13, so as to permit a portion of its edge to be turned downward within the interior of the band and inserted within the groove a, as shown in Fig. 5. hen the edge of the membrane is insertedin the groove, I insert a spring-ring, E, into the groove, the ring pressing the head or membrane firmly to itsseat in the groove. The edge of the membrane is thus firmly secured around behind the ring, while the main portion occupies the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 5. After the edge of the membrane is thus securely attached the central portion is pressed upward toward the upper edge of the band 0, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, and a broad metal ring, F, is inserted into the body, the diameter of the ringbeing the same as the internal diameter ofthe band 0, less the thickness of the membrane. This ring F is preferably rectangular in crosssectiou, so as to present a smooth flat upper face and circumference, and when in proper position its upperfaceis about on line with the upper edge of the band.

It will be seen that as the ring F is pressed upward it tends to strain and tighten the head D at all points alike, the head being securely held at its edges by the spring-ring The ring F will preferably be so thick vertically as to cover the ring E, and thereby prevent the latter from dropping out or becoming loose.

In order to adjust the ring F. and tighten the head or membrane, I provide the band with a series of studs, I), screwed into the band O, on the inner face thereof, and each threaded to receive a screw, 0. These screws 0 bear at their upper ends against the broad ring F, or in sockets d therein, and are provided either with a slotted or an angular head, by which they may be turned to bear with greater or less force upon the flat ring F, and thereby stretch the head or membrane, as may be found necessary.

In the inner face of the band C is or are a plate or plates, 0, set into the baud,flush with the inner face thereofiand provided with holes f to receive bolts 9, by which the body and the neck are secured together. The holes f will preferably be countersunk to recei ve the heads of the bolts or screws-g.

The end of the neck A is curved to conform to the periphery of the band C, and it is provided with one or more nuts, 71., to receive the screws as shown in Figs. 1. and 2, the nuts it being seated in sockets in the neck and held in place by plates which are secured to the nec by screws, or in any equivalent manner. The plates t' rest against the face of the nuts 7t and prevent their turning,

and are slotted vertically in line with the bore of the nuts, to allow the screws 9 to pass into the nuts.

From this construction it will be seen that I secure a very convenient and strong attachment of the neck to thebody, and which per- N ouuyuvl) mits the parts to be disengaged or detached from each other with. ease.

Secured to the band C, in line with the neck A, is the tail-piece G, consisting of a wooden block, 7., perforated to receive, and to which are secured, the strings H, and a spring-steel bent arm, Z, by which the tail-piece is attached to the band. The spring-steel arm Z is slightly elastic or yielding, so as to vibrate a limited degree with the strings.

Referring now to Figs. 6, 7, and S, I will describe the construction and operation of my improved finger-board. I provide the instru ment with six strings, instead of five, as is usually done, and I tune the lower sixth string at Gt; one-half a tone lower than ordinaryiustrulnents. The fifth string is tuned at B, the fourth at E, the third at Git, the second at B, and the first at E, the first, second, and third strings E, B, and G ',,being tuned,respectively, an octave higher than the fourth, fifth, and sixth strings.

The finger-board is provided, as usual, with a number of transverse frets, m, and between these frets I provide a series of lines, n n n, which extend diagonally from one fret to another or the next beyond, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7. These lines are for the purpose of aiding beginners and others to strike a chord in any desired key, the lines of any one of the series n extending backward and forward between the frets, the point of intersection of a line, fret, and string indicating the fret and the point upon the fret where it is desired to have the string bear. Thus the eighth fret would give the chords in the key of O on the first, second,third, and fourth strings, for on any four of the strings on that fret Isecure an octave. Take now, for instance, the key of G on the fourth fret. Starting from G on the sixth string and following the heavy line to the fifth fret, then diagonally upward to the third fret, and diagonally forward to the fourth fret, where it terminates, it will be noticed that this line coincides with such points in the length of the third, fourth, fifth, and sixth strings as would indicate the notes 0, E, G, and C, respectively, and by placing the fingers upon the third, fourth, and fifth frets at the points where the strings and the lines coincide the strings are adapted to produce a chord when struck. A chord may also be struck from the G on the fourth fret by following the dotted line to the sixth fret, thence backward, where it crosses the fifth and terminates at the fourth. At the point where the line coincides with the string on the sixth fret it would indicate the note F, where the fourth string crosses-the fifth fret it would indicate note A, and where it terminates on the fourth fret would indicate 0, the chord comprising the notes 0 F A 0, the upper C being an octave above the lower 0.

From this construction it will be seen that I am enabled to secure a chord on any given key, and that the ascertainment of the chord is materially aided by the use of the guide lines, which designate the notes forming the chord in any particular key.

I find it necessary to use only three series or sets of lines, a n n, for the reason that a line that applies to the fifth string B will also apply to the second string I3, the strings being tuned an octave apart. The same is true of the first and fourth and third and sixth strings. In practice these lines a may he made in dif ferent colors upon the finger-boards, or they may all be of the same color. In some cases I may make these guide-lines in the form represented in Fig. 8that is to say, the lines would be represented by scroll-work and could be inlaid flush with the upper face of the finger-board, or merely secured upon the upper face thereof. If the latter plan be adopted, the frets must be a little higher than the thickness of the scroll-work, in order that the strings may not touch the latter. IVhere the scroll -work is employed, different-colored woods may be employed, thus rendering the following of the lines easy, and also adding materially to the appearance of the fingerboard.

I do not limit myself to the exact arrangement of the lines as herein described and shown, as it is apparent that various modifications will suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. Therefore, while believing that the arrangement shown and described is particularly suited to the purposes of the present invention, I claim, broadly, the fingerboard provided with the lines between the frets and arranged so as to aid in determining the chords in any given key.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. In combination with band 0, provided near its upper edge on its inner face with a continuous groove, (1, a membranous head, D, applied to the band and having its edges inserted into the groove, a ring, E, also inserted in the groove to hold the membrane in place, a flat ring, F, fitting within the band C, a series of studs or nuts, I), secured to the inner face of the band, and a series of screws, a, passing through the nuts an d bearing against the under face of the ring F.

2. In combination with arm A, having nuts h, socketed therein and retained in place by plates 2', band C, and screws g, passing through the band and plates and engaging with the nuts.

3. In combination with arm A,provided with nuts 71. and retaining-plate i, band 0, provided with plate 0, and screws 5 connecting the band to the arm.

4.. In a banjo or similar stringed instrument, a finger-board provided with a series of frets, and aseries of guidelines between the frets, as and for the purpose set forth.

55111 a banjo or similar stringed instrument, 9. finger-board provided with a series of frets, and with a series of lines extending from one fret to another or the next, and co being distinguishable in touch or appearance ineidingwith the strings whorethelatter cross from one another, as and for the purpose set the frets. forth.

6. In a banjo or similar stringed instru- FREDERICK V. DANNER. 5 lnent, a finger-board provided with a series NVitnesses:

of frets, and with. a series of lines extending C. O. THOMPSON,

from one fret to another, the several series E. T. :MERRIETT. 

